Yes, there are indeed very little differences between traditional rugby and rugby 7s in terms of their governing match rules. With the minimal differences, how did rugby 7s managed to gain its roaring popularity?

Birth of Rugby 7s

Now 133 years old, Rugby 7s saw its birth in the Scottish Border town of Melrose as a result of financial difficulties. In 1883, the Melrose club experienced financial difficulties. To make ends meet, apprentice butcher Ned Haig and his master David Sanderson proposed to reduce the team of fifteen players to a team of seven players. Likewise, playing time was proposed to be reduced to 15 minutes in total.

The idea was adopted. And this made an indelible mark on the history of rugby – the birth of Rugby 7s.

The rise of Rugby 7s

Soon after establishment, Rugby 7s found itself to be widely spread and adorned in the Scottish Borders. However, it was not until the 1920s before Rugby 7s gained international popularity with various world-classed rugby 7s championships sprouting across the globe.

In the coming August 2016, Rugby 7s will be making its grand debut at the Rio 2016, Summer Olympics.

So… what exactly led to the popularity of Rugby 7s?

Apart from the difference listed above, the governing laws between a game of rugby 7s and rugby bore almost no difference. Just like traditional rugby, rugby 7s is played on a full sized pitch. That said, players of rugby 7s are challenged to be the in their best physical form to cover the ground during a match.

Full-sized pitch but played by only half the number of team players, this makes a rugby 7s match to be a thrill ride of continuous action packed with astounding feats of athleticism.